Tablet counter and packager



April 12, 1955 FURNO 2,706,072

TABLET COUNTER AND PACKAGER Filed March 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

ATTORNEX April 12, 1955 H. R. FURNO TABLET COUNTER AND PACKAGER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13. 1950 JNVENTOR.

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A TTO/F/VEX United States Patent O TABLET COUNTER AND PACKAGER Harold R.Furno, Burbank, Calif., assignor of forty-nine per cent to RichardHudachek, Hollywood, Calif.

Application March 13, 1950, Serial No. 149,427

4 Claims. (Cl. 226-2) This invention relates to an improved tabletcounter and packager and has for one of its principal objects theprovision of an improved compact and eflicient means for accuratelycounting tablets, pills or the like and which also includes means forplacing the same in a container or package.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a tabletcounting and packaging means which is compact, readily operated byalmost anyone, even those not particularly skilled, and which willassure at all times an accurate count of the pills, tablets, capsules orother articles to be packaged, while, at the same time, providing asimple and eflicient means for emptying counted articles into a bottleor other container.

Another important object of the invention is to provide in a tablet orpill counter means for automatically disposing of undesirable powder orbroken pieces which sometimes result from the handling of large numbersof tablets, particularly those of a friable nature.

Yet another object resides in the provision in a combination with atablet counter or the like, of a vibrating element which is part of theoperating handle and which vibrates the contents in such a manner thatthe tablet counting openings are promptly filled and any surplus tabletsreadily discarded.

The vibrator incorporated into the handle of the counter and packager ofthis invention also serves to shake the counted tablets out of thecounting openings when the counter is tilted for delivering the countedarticles into a container.

Further objects include the provision of a removable counting platewhereby various numbers and sizes of tablets can be accommodated withone unit and a remvable screen for the cover whereby the entireoperation can be readily observed and any accumulated powder or siftingseasily removed.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and followingspecification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved tablet counter and packagerof this invention showing the vibrator handle, the apertured tabletcounting plate and the chute for delivering the requisite number ofarticles after counting.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2 with one size ofdelivery spout added.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the tablet counting plateshowing that modification thereof which includes removability from thecounter itself.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a modified form of theinvention, this form being adapted for counting capsules.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the capsule receivingelements illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 2showing particularly the removable cover screen and its relationship tothe remainder of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the body portion of theimproved tablet counter and packager of this invention, the samecomprising essentially a threesided element as illustrated, having abottom 12 and a cover 14, preferably formed of wire screen or the like.

A delivery spout 16 is fixed in one corner of the device, this being forthe purpose of conveniently emptying the counted tablets, pills orcapsules into a suitable receptacle. The apparatus is mounted upon anoperating and supporting handle 18 which has incorporated thereinto anelectrically operated vibrator 20 which can be of any desired type orconstruction and which is supplied with current by means of wires 21.The construction and operation of the vibrator forms no part of thepresent invention except in that it vibrates the device for the purposeof readily counting and dispensing the contents thereof.

The sides 10 of the container are preferably of some suitable metal,such as stainless steel or the like, and the bottom is usually composedof two plates, the lowermost one being thinner, as indicated at 12, andsuperimposed thereupon is a plate of substantially similar dimensions asindicated at 22. The plate 22 has a number of openings or recesses 23therein corresponding in size to the size of the tablets or pills to becounted and of approximately the same depth.

The lower base or bottom portion 12 also has a corresponding number ofopenings or recesses 13 therein, each opening being concentric with thejuxtaposed opening in the plate 22 but smaller. These smaller openingspermit the ready elimination of dust, powder broken pieces and anyforeign material which may be mixed with the conglomerate pills, while,at the same time, preventing the pills or tablets themselves fromfalling through.

The plate 22 can be fixed by riveting or the like to the plate 12 or maybe slidably and movably mounted thereon, as shown by the dotted line 22Ain Figure 4. In either case, the forward or leading edge of the plate 22is slightly tapered, as shown at 26 in Figure 2, for the more readyscooping up and receiving of a quantity of pills or tablets to becounted.

The bottom portions 12 and 22 may also be made of some metal which isnon-resistant to acids or the like, but are preferably composed of somesynthetic compound which is likewise resistant to the action of any ofthe chemicals which may be in the tablets to be counted and which, likethe stainless steel sides, can be readily cleaned and sterilized whennecessary.

The cover of the device comprises essentially a screen 14 which is alsopreferably composed of stainless steel or some other similar suitablematerial. This screen is pref erably mounted in a rectangular frame 30which slides in channels 32 formed of the overhanging lips of the sides10 and the corresponding angle shaped element 34 which is fastenedinside the sides 10 by means of rivets 36 or by spotwelding or in someother suitable fashion. the screen 14 with its frame 30 can be readilyslipped into and out of the channel 3234, as best illustrated by thedotted lines and the arrow in Figure 2.

The handle 18-20 is preferably fastened onto the back portion of thecontainer 10 by means of a U-shaped bracket 40 thereby providing for agreater vibrating effect.

In Figure 3 is illustrated an adapter 44 which can be fitted onto theend of the spout 16 whereby the counted contents can be readily emptiedinto a bottle or container having a mouth of some particular size.Several of these adapters can be furnished with one counting device sothat gotitilfisdor containers having different sizes of openings can InFigures 5 and 6 a slightly modified form of the invention is illustratedwhereby the same is adapted for counting and packaging capsules asdistinguished from pills and tablets. This construction, while similarto the other in that it includes sides 50, a screen cover 54 which isslidable in the channel elements 56 and 58, has an entirely differentbottom portion. This bottom portion comprises essentially two plates, anupper plate 60 and a lower plate 62, between which are mounted a numberof capsule receiving tubes shaped as shown at 64. The capsulesthemselves are indicated at 66. The capsule receiving tubes 64 arefastened into the plates 60 and 62 in any suitable manner as, forexample, bolted by bolts and nuts, the bolts passing through both theplates 60 and 62. Shoulders are provided on the upper and lower edges 70and 72 of the tubes 64 whereby a close interfitting rela ice Obviously,

tionship is had. These tubes may be soldered or braised into position orheld in place by some other means, as by rivets 74 passing throughopenings in the plates 60 and 62.

In operation, the scoop or container 1012 is dipped or dug into a largevat or large container wherein a great number of tablets or pills 80 areplaced for counting and packaging. The operator, when scooping up thetablets, always makes sure that more than the number to be counted arepicked up. The device is then held with the bottom in approximately ahorizontal position and the vibrator started in any suitable manner, asby a trigger 82 on the handle 18. The vibrator, thus set up, agitatesthe pills or tablets 80 to such a degree that all of the openings in theplate 22 are quite promptly filled, after which the excess can be putback into the barrel, hopper or other bulk container by simply elevatingthe rear end of the counting element and allowing the pills to fall overthe leading edge 26. The operator can readily observe the abovedescribed action and when all the excess pills are disposed of, thedevice is tilted with its front or leading edge upwardly, whereupon thevibrator is again actuated and the pills are immediately bounced out ofthe openings in the plate 22 falling toward the rear of the container,after which it is a simple matter to dump them out through the spout 16into a container provided for the purpose. The vibration is in the planeof the bottom.

All surplus powder or broken pieces will drop through the openings inthe plate 12 and the entire operation can be viewed through the screen14, which, if it becomes clogged with dust or powder, can be readilyremoved or cleaned. The number of openings in the plate 22 can be variedconsiderably, depending upon the desired count. In this instance, thenumber is illustrated as 100 but this is merely representative.

In the event that many difierent counts and different types of tabletsare to be handled within a relatively short period of time, the plate 22can be made removable so that different counts and different sizes ofpills or tablets can be accomplished in a simple manner.

The capsule counting and packaging means shown in Figures and 6 operatesalong the same lines but the openings in the bottom plate 62 can beeither retained or closed inasmuch as capsules ordinarily have no powderor other dust which would otherwise accumulate and interfere with properoperation.

It will be evident that herein is provided a counting, sifting andfilling means for pills, tablets, capsules and the like which is highlyefilcient, readily handled, easily operated and which provides anaccurate count and convenient filling means for practically all types ofthe mentioned articles. The device is light in weight and, therefore,will not tire the operator. It is so constructed that it will not damageeven the most fragile or breakable pills or tablets and will also handlevariously shaped articles, including capsules.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tablet counter and packager comprising a container having threesides, a transparent removable cover and a bottom, the bottom having anumber of recesses therein corresponding to the desired count, a handleon the container, electrical vibrating means for the container in thehandle thereof for distributing the tablets in the recesses, and arearwardly disposed spout for discharging the counted articles.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the bottom comprises twoseparate plates and wherein the lower plate is provided with dusteliminating openings, said dust eliminating openings being aligned withthe counting recesses in the upper plate.

3. A device as described in claim 2, wherein the upper plate forcounting purposes is removable and slidable over the lower plate.

4. A tablet counter and packager comprising a container having threesides, a cover comprising a screen and a bottom, the bottom including aseries of tapered frustoconical tubes with their larger openingsupper-most, each of said tubes adapted to contain a capsule to becounted and wherein the lower diameter of the tube is smaller than thediameter of the capsule, electrical vibrating means in the handle, adelivery spout for the counted capsules in one rear corner of thecontainer, said electrical means producing a vibration of the containerin a plane parallel to the bottom thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS244,308 Reymond July 12, 1881 1,545,376 Weatherby July 7, 1925 1,579,947Kilpatrick Apr. 6, 1926 2,044,326 Pickell June 16, 1936 2,387,672Mayberry Oct. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,326 Great Britain Sept. 15,1908 238,644 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1945

